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John Kerr Wins the 2003 U.S. OPEN
The West's top prize

2003 U.S. OPEN Lake Mead, NV. --- Historically, the U.S.OPEN has been the West's largest, most prestigious bass tournament. With first-place delivering more than 100,000.00, the competition is always stiff. In 2002 Folkestad squeaked out a win by mere ounces. This year's event played out in similar fashion.


John Kerr, a longtime tournament angler from Ramona, California, is no stranger to winning. He and his partner Mike Long are back to back Won Bass Anglers of the Year. However, Kerr has never entered what he calls a "major" professional event. Entering the U.S. OPEN John Kerr decided to just "go for it." I wasn't going up there to win," said Kerr." You always dream of winning, but I just wanted to have a strong showing. I figured if I could catch 7 pounds a day I'd cash a check. It was really just a measuring stick to see if I could compete with those guys, because they're all so good. That's all I wanted, the confidence to keep doing it afterward."

Kerr gained that confidence, and then some. The Mead bite was tough. Catching a limit was no guarantee, and anglers who did well were able to find a small pattern, or brief window of opportunity, and then fully exploit it. Kerr ran miles and miles of bank, both in practice and in the tournament. He made a commitment to top water and stuck with it, even in lean times.

"I didn't get any fish to eat my bait until 11:00 in the morning," said Kerr." That was the pattern, when everyone was putting down their topwaters, I was just getting started. After day 1, I was in third, and just went back out the second day and covered five or eight miles of shoreline. Everyone thought I had this secret bait or a honeyhole, but there was no honeyhole whatsoever." Kerr was very determined to credit his amateur partners with helping seal the win. All my AAAs were great," said Kerr and they all helped. Dean Yamagata, Brian Thomas, and Dennis Brown--- I couldn't have done it without them. They didn't miss a beat."

When asked what it's like to win the first major tournament he's ever fished, Kerr replied, "the win still hasn't sunk in. There's little reminders, like when I walk in the living room and see the trophy and think, 'Oh yeah, I just won the U.S. OPEN! It's incredible."

Kerr's sponsors include: Hastings Rod Manufacturing “GRAPHITE-USA / UNITED RODS", Strike Pro Lures, Maxima Line, SR. Plastics, Rago Generic Baits and Anglers Marine.

John Kerr
John Kerr's Favorite Rods
United UR661DS 6'6" spinning rod.
GUSA BAS 70ML-XF 7'0" spinning

GUSA C70-fast action 7'0" bait casting

GUSA BAC65MH-XFW 6'6" bait casting

GUSA BAC65H6'6" bait casting

GUSA 75MH 7'8" bait casting

GUSA 7.11H 7'11" bait casting

... read more.

New for 2004

Hasting Rod Manufacturing is pleased to introduce the Mike Long and John Kerr Signature Series Rods.

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Fish with what the Pro's use.

Ask for them at your favorite tackle store.